Toyota Unveils Youth-Oriented CCX Concept At 2002 North American International Auto Show
Detroit, 7 January, 2002 – Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) presented the world premiere debut of the Concept Coupe Crossover (ccX) vehicle at a press conference at the 2002 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The ccX is a multi-purpose concept vehicle that explores new directions in styling and versatility. It reflects the corporation’s dedication to satisfying the evolving needs of younger customers.
Aimed at individuals with active lifestyles, ccX combines the aggressive styling expected in a sports coupe with expansive cargo-hauling capability needed for light-duty work and play.
“It is important for Toyota to raise the emotional pulse of a large global youth market,” said Jim Press, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., senior vice president and COO. “The ccX is a glimpse at one direction being explored by the company to address new buyer demands. Its unique look expresses individuality. And its thoughtful approach to versatility allows the customer to decide how the vehicle fits into their lifestyle.”
Designed in Japan, the ccX was built in Italy at Forum Ricerche E Progetti. The Silver exterior features strong sweeping character lines, sharp surface edges, a tall sloping roofline, and rounded front and rear contours that create an aggressive sports coupe appearance.
The roof is comprised of two large power sunroofs, each made up of four glass panels. The roof panels tilt up individually, and then slide forwards and back towards the centre of the roofline, creating large openings over the entire passenger compartment and cargo area.
In this configuration, the user enjoys convertible-type open air motoring, along with the added capability of carrying bulky objects in the back. The vertical glass rear panel is a two-piece unit that can be retracted into the bumper and out of the way for easy access to the rear cargo area.
Convenience is addressed with a hand-sensitive door entry system that automatically opens the doors for easy entry. The ccX accommodates four passengers comfortably with see-through bucket seats while the front seats include five-point harness belts and sliding storage trays underneath. The rear seatbacks fold forward to provide ample luggage space and feature fold-up metal dividers to protect the front seatbacks from heavy or sharp-edged luggage.
The blue instrument cluster is centre-dash mounted for reduced driver fatigue and better visibility. The blue theme carries through to the bordering of a seven-inch multi-display monitor that displays DVD entertainment, navigation and audio systems. A remote control panel for the monitor and mobile phone is conveniently located on the centre console and is protected by a sliding acrylic blue cover.
A large engine well houses a performance-tuned 2.4-litre, 16-valve four-cylinder engine. The engine is linked to a four-speed automatic transmission. The front-wheel drive ccX rides on 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels with 225/45/R18 tyres.
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